Going rate for commission crafting?

[Kaeliara]

<p>This is probably a stupid question, but here goes!</p><p>As a mostly solo player in a small guild of 4 people who really only play with each other, I don't really get very social out in the world of Norrath...and I have two characters who would like to finish their crafting epic.  Was just going to wait till I got my alts up there, since I'm the only one really crazy about tradeskilling in my guild so that would take a while, but now I really want my cloaks and titles and can no longer wait!  <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /></p><p>So I'm wondering, what is usually fair payment for having someone commission craft those lvl 80 items?  I'm not trying to be cheap, and I know most players out there would be honest, but just in case I ask that one person who wants to take advantage of someone who 'doesn't get out much'...I thought I'd ask here!</p><p>Thanks in advance!</p><p>~Kaeliara</p>

[Eveningsong]

<p>Personally I never ask for a tip for TS epic, but I've received anywhere from 25g to 5p when I have done commissions for folks.  If you can afford it, I would consider around 50g to be a reasonable mid-range.</p>

[Gladiolus]

<p>I've never charged or been charged for making the Proof of the Pudding items.</p>

[Klive]

<p>I never ask for a tip. If folks ask what I  charge, I just tell them what they can comfortably afford.</p>

[crumpledmonkey]

<p>I myself never charge anybody but i will tip about 50gp when i get stuff made.</p><p>Most people dont charge for these combines because its a crafting quest and if you are making an item for some one you know they have done the quest themselves and hope they will do the same in the future when they make stuff for someone.</p><p>Most crafting communitys are close and everybody knows everybody.</p>

[Crickett]

<p>For the crafting epic ( I have 3 level 90's) and I never charge.</p><p>When I first completed it I had ALL (including fuel) the materials to craft the items and tipped each player 1pp (some refused it)</p>

[Katz]

<p>Most of the people that I know don't charge anything for it.  If you want to tip thats fine, but you supply all the mats and its just something we do for each other.</p>

[Kaeliara]

<p>Thank you all for your replies <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Valdaglerion]

<p>Since you are looking for a honest answer, dont expect to post a request in channel chat and have everyone drop what they are doing to stop and help for nothing. When epics first came out there were plenty of people willing to help but that was long ago.</p><p>While you may get lucky and find someone willing to do it gratis, expect to pay 1-5p. I have all 9 master crafters and have been paid as much as 75p to round robin my toons and finish the epic out for people. Up until about 4-6 months ago I typically received 1-2p per item as a tip, more recently there seem to be a lot fewer people who are either willing or able to do them and charges are more along the 3-5p range per item made plus rares.</p><p>So in the end if you find no one is responding start advertising what you are willing to tip and you will find the point at which it is worth someone to stop what they are doing to help.</p><p>And good luck on finishing your epic!</p>

[Meirril]

<p>I'd suggest offering a 1p tip when you advertize on the crafting channel. Some people will turn down the tip, but its good to be upfront about these sort of things and tell people how much your tipping when you ask them to make something.</p>

[GrunEQ]

<p><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; color: #cc99ff; font-size: small;">I never charge and do refuse a tip for Pudding items.  Most others refused tips also.  I just tell people to be sure to help someone else out later as a way to show appreciation.</span></p>

[Jrral]

<p>I don't know about others, but my standard pricing when the customer provides the rares and any imbue materials needed is 3x fuel cost: 1x for the fuel, 1x for the common raws used, 1x for my time. For the crafter epic combines that don't use any common raws, it'd be 2x fuel cost.</p><p>NB: that assumes the customer's coming to me at our guild hall. If I have to come to the customer, I may add a premium anywhere from another 1x fuel cost on up depending on how much extra hassle the trip's causing me. And of course depending on how well I know you I may omit any part of the fee I feel like.</p>

[Khurghan]

<p>Depends on the person/and or level of the toon 5-10 plat is not unreasonable for someone at level 90 (adventurer).</p>

[erin]

<p>Depends a LOT on how you ask, what you are offering, what my mood is that day.</p><p>I've seen people offering 5pp per combine, and willingly logged in all 8 crafters they needed for free (in other words, refused the tip entirely).  I've seen people offer 10 gp (and they are level 90!) and I wouldn't bother doing the combine if they were standing by a crafting table that I was already up.  Sad but true.  To me, offering 10gp (or whatever) is insulting, you are saying that you don't value my time, at all.</p><p>Its not about the tip, its about how you ask, and making sure people are aware that you appreciate a complete stranger going out of their way for you.</p><p>Anyway, offer 1pp or 2pp tip, and you should get most of them in a few days. Be patient.  Don't spam.  Bring ALL the mats (rares, fuels).  Be grateful (how about saying thanks for example?  Some people don't, they figure, I tipped you, therefore you don't deserve a simple thank you).</p><p>I don't have much trouble getting help from people because I follow these rules.</p><p>If you list your server here, you will likely get an offer of some help too!  Since server forums are gone, just make a new thread saying "Looking for TS Epic combines on <insert server>" and list your normal play hours and other things that will help people hook up with you.</p>

[Kaeliara]

<p>Thanks alot for taking the time to reply all!</p><p>Erin, that all makes sense...Golden Rule and all that.Sounds like I should be finishing some epics soon! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Valdaglerion]

<p>Erin does bring up good points. I have found myself in similar where someone is just happy to be playing the game and is genuinely looking for assistance and willing to pay for it and you just do them a favor because you want to.</p>

[Wizard_Thoarin]

<p>Another good point you might want to consider is the person that comes off as begging.  I've seen people effectively spamming chat for something to be crafted for them, not necessarily the TS epic stuff.  I've seen them go from not mentioning a tip to saying they will tip big.  When I break down and ask them how much they are going to tip its usually less then 50 gold which isn't worth my time to switch toons in my opinion.</p><p>Guild Members, and guys I've gotten to know in the game though I don't charge and let them determine the tip.  I usually do pretty good with them and on several occassions have said their tip was too large and gave some or most of it back.  They in turn are willing to help me out when I ask which isn't often and if it were tradeskill related I'd tip them back just as well as they tipped me.</p><p>Anyway, I consider it a minimum of 1 plat for me to change toons if I have to for someone I don't know.  Then cover all costs and a decent tip should be negotiated up front.  On a good day when I'm leveling the crafter toon's adventure levels and someone I don't know needs something for I'll ask for 2X cost plus a tip for my time or a tip for my time plus they provide everything including fuel.  On a bad day, or when I think the guys being annoying in level chat, I expect a minimum of 1 plat plust costs per combine plus my fee for changing toons which is 1 plat per toon change.  I guess that would be a minimum of 2 plat per combine plus costs if the person asking is being annoying or a jerk in level chat.</p>